“Not as much as I used to. When they were very young they loved visiting. My home is near the sea, so they’d come with their buckets and spades and make castles and eat ice cream. As they grew older they were more reluctant to leave friends behind. These days it tends to be my daughter and her husband who visit.” And her concern about that had simmered in the back of her mind since that journey to the airport.

She felt a flutter of anxiety. “Martha, when we reach our next destination perhaps you would be kind enough to send another photo and message to my daughter. Perhaps even an email.”

Martha glanced in the mirror. “Of course. I’ve been sending her loads of photos. We’ve got a relationship going.”

It was the first thing she’d said since they’d left Devil’s Elbow. Kathleen was relieved to know she was at least alive, and not only because she was the one driving.

“I expect you know a great deal about social media, Josh? Martha here has started a social media account for us, cataloguing our adventures. It’s beyond me, of course, but it’s all rather fun. We’re photographing and videoing our trip across America. In my youth I presented a rather popular travel show called The Summer Seekers.”

“You did?” Josh turned, intrigued. “Tell me about it.”

And so she did, and it turned out that Josh was a remarkably good listener, something she’d always considered to be an important quality in a man. Hopefully Martha could see that.

Was she going to talk at all?

Josh was obviously wondering the same because he glanced at her. “How about you, Martha? Are you taking the summer off?”

“I am.”

With the exception of the early part where she was becoming accustomed to the car, Martha had talked nonstop since they’d started this trip but now, when Kathleen needed her to engage Josh in conversation, she was silent. “Martha is also taking some thinking time,” she said, “so the two of you have that in common. Josh, you seem like a well-connected young man. Perhaps you have some career tips for Martha. She’s looking for a change of direction.”

Martha kept her gaze fixed on the road. “Don’t need anyone’s help, thank you.” She slammed her foot on the brake as a car pulled out. “Fox!”

Josh looked confused, and Kathleen gave a weary sigh.

“Don’t ask.”

Josh obviously realized that Martha wasn’t going to engage, because he turned back to Kathleen.

“And how about you, Kathleen? This is an ambitious trip for—” He broke off and Kathleen waved a hand.